Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Format: Digital Promo (Napalm Records)

After several issues of a couple magazines (most notably Terrorizer) were talking about this female-fronted ‘true’ metal band (and after seeing their singer in next to nothing, honestly) I needed to hear them. And so it came to pass that I got to get my hands on a digital promo of Spell Eater.
I’ve given the album a couple listens now, and I’m quite impressed. Female-fronted bands of late have been leaving me with a listless feeling, like they are just trying too hard, and falling short of their goals; and when I found out that Napalm was taking care of Huntress I was honestly a little bit worried that they may be getting overshadowed by the label’s other, more well-known female-fronted bands. But no, this troupe is definitely not going to get lost in the label, nor do I feel listless after listening. Quite the opposite, in fact!
Think King Diamond if King Diamond was a hot blonde with an affinity for Siouxie Sioux, and you’re getting into the right territory. Musically the band brings to mind Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and even some newer Opeth. And well, King Diamond. Galloping guitar and bass, soaring vocals, growls, and spine tingling/finger wrecking solos are brought together to create Spell Eater.
Favorite songs are the lead-off single “Eight of Swords”, which is catchy as hell, “Aradia”, which reminds me a bit of mid-90’s Fear Factory, and “Senicide”, the second track from the album.
In total, I’m definitely loving this album and I’ll be buying it when it comes out.
8.5 out of 10.

Spell Eater Tracklisting:
1. Spell Eater
2. Senecide
3. Sleep and Death
4. Snow Witch
5. Eight of Swords
6. Aradia
7. Night Rape
8. Children
9. Terror
10. The Tower
11. The Dark

Spell Eater Personnel:
Eric Harris: Bass
Carl Wierzbicky: Drums
Blake Meahl: Lead Guitars
Ian Alden: Rhythm Guitars
Jill Janus: Vocals

Genre: Industrial Metal
Label: AFM/13th Planet Records
Format: Digital Stream (Earsplit PR)

I’ve gone through this digital promo a couple times now, and one thing is really sticking out for me: it kicks ass! Grinding industrial slammed into grinding metal with lyrics that range from Al’s troubles in the industry (“Ghouldiggers”), voter apathy (“Get Up, Get Out and Vote”), the Occupy Movement (“99 Percenters”) the end of the world (“Relapse”), and more. The album is a veritable gold mine for topical discussion, and many of it will not be dated for years from now.
Riff-wise, it’s pretty much standard Ministry style, somewhat simplistic and repetitive, but not to the point of boring. Perfect stuff to bang the noggin to. If you’ve never experienced the Ministry sound, you’re missing out. There’s nothing like them. Old fans will love this album, and in some instances they may even think it’s the best so far. Al has never sounded so good vocally, and with Tony Campos running the bass this time around, there’s a definite more industrial touch to it, but with an organic feel behind the scenes.
When this hits the streets, you need to grab a copy of it.
8.5 out of 10.

Relapse Tracklisting:
1. Ghouldiggers
2. Double Tap
3. Freefall
4. Kleptocracy
5. United Forces
6. 99 Percenters
7. Relapse
8. Weekend Warrior
9. Get Up Get Out n Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse Defibrillator Mix

Relapse Personnel:
Al Jourgensen
Mike Scaccia
Tommy Victor
John Bechdel
Tony Campos
Aaron Rossi

Genres: Death Metal, Progressive Grindcore
Label: Relapse Records

FTF have been a favorite of mine for a long time, as readers of this site may well know. When I was given the opportunity to download and review the new album from the PR company, I was stoked. So yeah, I downloaded the promo, listened to it a couple times, and loved it. But never had the actual time to get my thoughts on it down. Then last night I was in HMV and ended up grabbing a copy of the album. So now that I have the physical version I’m making the time to review it properly.

This is definitely one of the strangest FTF albums so far. It has the grinding of previous albums Stigmata High Five and Disgorge Mexico, but it blends in more of the death metal influence that was very obvious on the Unnamed 7″. Absent are the slower, pretty parts that hearken back to 80′s thrash (especially Metallica) that were featured on Disgorge Mexico. The songs seem longer too, and in continuing with FTF traditions, there is a long song that is almost seven-and-a-half minutes long (“Census Blank”). This song also has a guy doing vocals on it, but due to the awesome amounts of liner notes for the album I have no idea who is doing them. Probably one of the guys in the band.

The second-longest song brings in another FTF tradition, a song in French! “95″ is the tune, and it’s a really fast, angry sounding track that makes me want to mosh like crazy, especially during the guitar solo. This one is a good example of the strangeness of the album too: it’s got a slower riff that really strikes me as a Black Sabbath worship riff. Totally doomy with a touch of psychrock going on.

These little sections are peppered all over the album, riffs that just are not typical grindcore or death metal, but bringing in other genres that influence the men and lady of FTF. And the way that they work with the more typical Fuck the Facts sound is amazing!

In the end, Die Miserable is a sweet album, and definitely should be looked at for those that are into Pig Destroyer, Buried Inside, Gigan, Napalm Death, and Nasum.

8.5 out of 10.

Fuck the Facts on Facebook.

Genre: Folk Metal
Label: Independent

Scythia’s …of War is a brilliant assault on the cardiovascular system. It’s practically impossible to not pump your fist and bang your head to this album. And with the extra weight of beer cans in your hand, the necessary ingredient for pretty much all folk metal, it gets even better for your health.
It’s got great leads, clever riffs, and perfect vocals from both genders, and not once does it disappoint for just plain old fun factor. Check these Vancouverites out.
8.5 out of 10.

Scythia on Facebook.

Genre: Progressive Black Metal
Label: Debemur Morti

Blut Aus Nord, also known as France’s Darkthrone to some, are a fantastic band, and have been since their inception, and this re-release of their somewhat underrated 2001 album shows them at some of their most unsettling.
Odd riffs, fast drumming, and a very distinct lack of bass guitar tones (they’re really buried in there) gives the sound of very grim black metal, but it’s the avant-garde aspects of the band that are really starting to show their colors with this album, and even more so on the bonus disc.
The second CD is consisting of “The Fall: Chapter 7″ in three parts, and it’s at times extremely raw and violent black metal with parts very much an avant-garde shoegaze black metal (think of a more depressing and creepy Alcest or even Netra without the trip-hop). From what I gather, this second disc was recorded recently, for the re-release of The Mystical Beast of Rebellion, and it’s worth the price of the album alone.
If only more new black metal sounded this fresh and mind expanding.
8.5 out of 10.